Apparatus for crimping turned fittings

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for crimping a fitting to a hose end. A clearance space is provided extending downwardly from a compression ring the length of the fluid pressure operating cylinders of the apparatus for accommodating fittings and the like being attached to the hose end in the apparatus. The disclosed apparatus uses a pair of horizontally spaced vertical hydraulic operating cylinders.

- [451 Apr. 23, 1974 3,047,043 7/1962 Albrecht 3,096,876 7/1963 Scudieri..... 2,231,278 2/1941 Miller k D W E m m w G m m M P r m n R C L R n H m h a m D Ts AG n RNm A n P PI v AFI M N 5 U Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Assistant Examiner-M. J. Keenan [73] Assignee: Imperial-Eastman Corporation,

Chicago, Ill.

Attorney, Agent, or' Firm-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [22] Filed: Aug. 7, 1972 1 App]. No.1 278,521

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References Cited modating fittings and the like b UNITED STATES PATENTS hose end in the apparatus. The di uses a pair of horizontally spaced operating cylinders.

vertical hydraulic 72/453 72/453 6 Claims, 3Drawing Figures 3,335,594 Peterman.............................. 2 218 818 3,034,425

1 APPARATUS FOR CRIMPING TURNED FITTINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for crimping .fittings to hose ends and in particular to such apparatus adapted to be operated by fluid pressure means.

2. Description of the Prior Art In one form of improved crimping apparatus disclosed in US. Letters Pat. No. 3,335,594 issued to R. .I. Peterman et al., crimping means are provided for radially inwardly crimping a hose fitting onto a hose end as a result of an operation of a fluid pressure device urging a camming means against a plurality of crimping dies. Additional crimping apparatuses are disclosed in the Scudieri US. Pat. No. 3,096,876 and Albrecht U.S. Pat. No. 3,047,043.

A problem arises in such prior art crimping apparatuses with respect to accommodating fitting elements and the like subjacent the crimping die support because of interference by different portions of the forceapplying elements of the apparatus. Thus, illustratively in the Scudieri patent, a pressure member extends between the fitting and the pressure plate and is provided with a side recess to accommodate fittings such as elbow fittings. In the Albrecht patent, the cylinders are disposed so as to provide no clearance at the center thus presenting the above-discussed prior art problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present. invention comprehends an improved crimping apparatus which is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art crimping apparatuses as discussed above.

More specifically, the present invention comprehends the provision of such a crimping apparatus wherein a pair of fluid pressure cylinders are disposed to upstand from a base in' spaced apart relationship to define therebetween a clearance space for receivinga depending portion of a fitting disposed to be crimped by the die elements of the apparatus. The die elements may be carried on a supportsuperp osed over the clearance space and a ram may be carried on the upper ends of the force mechanism drive means to urge the dies selectively inwardly to effect the crimping operation with the depending portion of the fitting extending freely downwardly into the clearance space from radially inwardly of the dies.

The invention further comprehends the provision of such a die support having a center opening arranged to pass the dies vertically therethrough for installation and removal as desired.

The invention further comprehends providing such an apparatus with improved means for reducing the friction between the dies and the ram camming surface for improved facilitated crimping operation of the apand the base plate 27. Thefgspacing between the posts 23 is greater than the spacing between the cylinders 19,

paratus. More specifically, the invention comprehends providing means for lubricating the camming surface which is movable therewith in the camming operation. The lubricating means may include a fitting carried on the ram and duct means for delivering lubricant from the fitting through the ram to the camming surface. A plurality of such fittings and duct means may be provided for further improved lubrication.

2 BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent, from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crimping apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevation thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, an apparatus generally designated 10 is shown as including a plurality of dies 11 arranged to crimp a fitting 12 to a hose end 13. The dies are carried in a die holder 14 for radial movement therein, and as shown in FIG. 2, are provided with arcuate inner surfaces 15 disposed concentrically about a means of a plurality of bolts 24 threaded .to the threaded upper ends of the posts. Dieholder 14 is secured to support plate 22 by means of a plurality of cap screws 25.

The lower threaded ends of-the posts 23 are provided with nuts 26 defining mounting feet for the apparatus subjacent a base plate 27. The hydraulic cylinders 19 are secured to the top of the base plate 27 by suitable means such as screws 28 to be spaced substantially apart to opposite sides of the centerline 16 of the apparatus, as best seen in FIGS. l and 3. Thus, the cylinders 19 define a clearance space 29 therebetween and subjacent the ram l7'accommodating the lower end 'of the fitting 12 which, in the illustrated embodiment, may comprise an elbow fitting projecting forwardly through the space 29, without interference by any portion of the apparatus. A manifold 30 may be provided at the lower rear of space 29 on base plate 27 for delivering hydraulic fluid concurrently to the hydraulic cylinders 19 for concurrent operation thereof in the selective movement of the pistons 18. The bore 20 of ram 17, as shown in FIG. 3, is substantially larger than the cross section of clearance space 29, thus providing further clearance fQl'Ih fitting l2 subjacent the die holder 14.

I As shown in FIG. ,1, the posts 23 extend freely through the rar'nj1-7 between. the top support plate 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, whereby the clearance space 29 widens forwardly and rearwardly above the a base plate 27 and the manifold 30.

Thus, not only may a fitting, such as an elbow fitting, be freely received in clearance space 29 to have the crimpable portion thereof received in the space 31 inwardly of die surface 15, but extensions from the fitting outwardly therefrom such as hose connections thereto may be accommodated through the clearance forwardly and rearwardly of the cylinders. The clearance space 29 at the axis 16 extends fully downwardly from the die holder 14 to the top of base plate 27 and fully downwardly from the ram 17 at the front and rear of the clearnace space. The bottom of the ram is substantially coincident with the top of the cylinders 19 in the lowermost position of the ram, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, substantially improved facilitated accommodation of different turned fittings and fitting extensions is provided by the clearance space 29 for facilitated use of the crimping apparatus.

A suitable gauge means 32 may be provided for indicating to the user the radial movement of the dies in the crimping operation for controlled crimping of the fitting in the conventional manner.

For further facilitated crimping operation, it has been found desirable to provide means for lubricating the camming surface 21 for low friction engagement with the crimping dies 1 1. To this end, a plurality of grease cups 33 are mounted on the ram 17. The ram is provided with transfer passages 34 leading from the cups 33 to an annular groove 35 opening radially inwardly toward the annular ring 36 secured in the ram 17 and defining the camming surface 21. The ring 36 is provided with a plurality of grease plugs 37 communicating between the groove 35 and the camming surface 21 in line with each of the dies 11, as shown in FIG. 2. The grease plugs are urged against the outer surfaces 38 of the dies by suitable spring biasing means 39 retained in bores 40 in the ram 17 by suitable spacers 41 and set screws 42. Thus, the grease is delivered from the grease cups 33 to the annular groove 35 and from the annular groove 35 through the grease plugs 37 uniformly to the outer surfaces of the dies for lubrication thereof during the operation of the crimping apparatus to facilitate the crimping operation by minimizing friction and wear between the camming surface 21 and the dies 11.

The dies, as shown'in FIG. 2, are insertable into slots 43 in the die holder 14 through the axial opening 31.

free accommodation of the fitting and attachments may occur. Further, the present invention facilitates the crimping operation by the improved coaction between the pressure applying means and dies resulting from the minimizing of friction therebetween resulting from the use of the improved lubricating means.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim: a

l. in an apparatus for crimping a turned fitting such as an elbow fitting to a hose end, said apparatus having a base, a plurality of crimping dies, a support carrying said dies for movement inwardly against the fitting, a ram defining a camming surface for engaging said dies to urge said dies forcibly inwardly, the improvement comprising: supporting means on said base for fixedly supporting said support above said ram; and a pair of laterally spaced force mechanisms on said base having upper means for selectively forcibly urging said ram toward said support to engage said dies, said mechanisms being arranged to define a forwardly completely unobstructed clearance space t'herebetween extending downwardly from said ram for receiving a depending portion of a fitting disposed to be crimped by said dies in said support, said depending portion extending downwardly from said ram and having a forwardly projectingportion freely receivable in said forwardly unobstructed clearance space.

2. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a pair of uprights forwardly of said force mechanisms spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing of said force mechanisms whereby said clearance space widens forwardly of said apparatus.

3. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of uprights further defining means for guiding movement of said ram by said force mechanisms.

4. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 further including means for conducting lubricant through said support to said camming surface for reducing frictional forces between said camming surface and said dies.

5. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support defines a vertical center opening, said dies being installable and removable relative to said support by movement thereof vertically through said opening.

6. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ram defines the upper end of said clearance space. 

1. In an apparatus for crimping a turned fitting such as an elbow fitting to a hose end, said apparatus having a base, a plurality of crimping dies, a support carrying said dies for movement inwardly against the fitting, a ram defining a camming surface for engaging said dies to urge said dies forcibly inwardly, the improvement comprising: supporting means on said base for fixedly supporting said support above said ram; and a pair of laterally spaced force mechanisms on said base having upper means for selectively forcibly urging said ram toward said support to engage said dies, said mechanisms being arranged to define a forwardly completely unobstructed clearance space therebetween extending downwardly from said ram for receiving a depending portion of a fitting disposed to be crimped by said dies in said support, said depending portion extending downwardly from said ram and having a forwardly projecting portion freely receivable in said forwardly unobstructed clearance space.
 2. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a pair of uprights forwardly of said force mechanisms spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing of said force mechanisms whereby said clearance space widens forwardly of said apparatus.
 3. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of uprights further defining means for guiding movement of said ram by said force mechanisms.
 4. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 further including meaNs for conducting lubricant through said support to said camming surface for reducing frictional forces between said camming surface and said dies.
 5. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support defines a vertical center opening, said dies being installable and removable relative to said support by movement thereof vertically through said opening.
 6. The crimping apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ram defines the upper end of said clearance space. 